BC

Legal fight on ICBC changes

The Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia (TLABC) is taking the provincial government to court over changes to ICBC regulations, arguing that they violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

In a press release Sunday, TLABC said the new law would restrict British Columbians’ access to the courts and cut compensation for those hurt on BC roads, CTV News reports.

“Access to justice is a basic human right guaranteed to us as Canadians under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” said TLABC’s Ron Nairne. “The approach this government has taken to legislative and regulatory changes to address ICBC’s mismanagement problems violates the rights of British Columbians. This should be about protecting the public interest – not about protecting ICBC.”

The changes are slated to take effect Monday — including a 6.3 per cent hike to basic insurance rates, sending disputes under $50,000 to a civil resolution tribunal and $5,500 cap on awards for pain and suffering for minor injuries.

The NDP government brought in the changes in an attempt to pull ICBC out of a $1 billion deficit.